SOME might point the finger at this one being a case of style over substance, but if you want a small SUV that’s competent in all areas it’s worth investigation.
It represents decent value for money, is fairly cheap to run and it comes with Kia’s seven year warranty for an extra bit of peace of mind.
There’s not much of a choice of engine power – every Stonic variant gets the company’s 1.0 litre three cylinder T-GDi petrol engine which in standard form produces 99bhp, with the 48V mild hybrid assisted version giving you 118bhp.
It’s romp to 62mph seems quicker than the official 10.4 second figure, because the engine picks up speed well,but in reality it ‘s best environment is around town, where its ride height gives you an improved all round view, and the light steering comes into its own when you’re constantly changing direction. On dual carriageways where you’re always pointing in the same direction the steering feels a little vague and too light at times.
The only body style available is the five door, but you can pick either a six speed manual, which has a nice precise click to it, or a dual clutch auto. Trim levels are 2, GT-Line, 3 and GT-Line S.
There’s no such thing as poverty spec, so don’t feel you’re doing yourself down by opting for the 2 grade variant.
Kia don’t do lengthy options lists so what you see is pretty well what you get, but the choice is there in the various spec levels.
Few cars can adequately cope with the abysmal standard of road surfaces in the UK these days, and this has been designed in Europe where roads are much better. But it makes a fair fist of coping with the varying conditions, pitter pattering across the surface.
Good clear instrumentation is dead ahead with two main dials and the rest of the necessary info located between the two. It’s a set up you’ll find in all Kias and it works well. GT-Line S comes with a really good sat nav, very clear with better graphics than you find in a lot of cars these days, as well as plenty of other kit like a reversing camera and heated seats.
There’s nothing really radical about the interior – just a neat and tidy collection of all you need in a user friendly cabin. Build quality and finish is impressive.
The manual gearbox sampled here has a nice snick to it and all the controls have a lightness of touch that makes for easy piloting.
For a small car the legroom is excellent in the front, but pushing the seat all the way back means there’s not much behind.
Keeping up with its SUV pretensions the bodywork is quite muscular and chunky, a deviation from some its its direct competitors. There are black plastic sill guards and wheel arch trims, plus standard fit roof rails which when added to the dual colour paint on top spec models help give it a more adventurous look.
Kia Stonic GT-Line S 1.0 T-GDi 48v
Price: £24,800
Engine: 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder, petrol
Power: 118bhp
Torque: 127lb/ft
Transmission: 6 speed manual
Top speed: 115mph
0-60mph: 10.4 seconds
Economy: 50.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 129g/km
© wheelwrite.co.uk 2024